Op-Ed World Population Day 2024
By Elizabeth Arnold–Talbert and Adler Bynoe
Over the past 30 years, significant advancements have been made in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). This progress was inspired by the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), which underscored the critical links between reproductive health, human rights, and sustainable development. The ICPD was a groundbreaking 1994 meeting in Cairo, where 179 governments adopted a revolutionary Programme of Action, emphasizing the need to prioritize women’s reproductive health and rights in both national and global development initiatives
It also highlighted the role of healthcare systems in promoting human rights and progress. The use of quality data and analysis has facilitated many advancements such as increased access to reproductive care for women, reductions in maternal mortality, and improvements in gender equality. With more comprehensive and precise information at our fingertips, we have been able to plan and monitor more effectively, allowing societies to measure and achieve goals related to health and the fulfillment of rights and choices.